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California’s best-of-class amusement parks, from Disneyland to Six Flags, lure travelers for their innovative rides, roaming characters, and signature treats. But the fun doesn’t stop on terra firma. The state is also home to “North America’s largest floating inflatable water park,” otherwise known as Splash-n-Dash Aqua Park<\/a>, a 200,000-square-foot aquatic paradise found in Snelling’s Lake McSwain Recreation Area. Whether you’re 10 years old or middle-aged, the prospect of a lake hopping with colorful bouncers for jumping, climbing, and sliding along (complete with\u00a0a water-tag experience)\u00a0can seem like a real-life fantasy. The park combines water fun, kayaking,\u00a0beach cabanas, and even nearby camping surrounded by the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas,\u00a0a scene that fluctuates from a carpet of green to slopes of dry, dusty brown.<\/p>\n Open May to September,\u00a0the park is a great place to cool off when visiting Sacramento, located 2.5 hours to the north, or Fresno,\u00a0a\u00a01.5-hour drive south.\u00a0You can camp at the lakeside recreation area<\/a>, which offers campsites for tents and RVS, some with water and electric hookups,\u00a0along with cabins.<\/p>\n Water enthusiasts can thank the region’s forefathers for this recreational outlet. More than just a lake, it’s a reservoir overseen by the Merced Irrigation District. Its origins<\/a> go back to the mid-1920s when Exchequer Dam was built to store the waters of the Merced River in the newly formed reservoir (now Lake McClure). Then, in the 1960s<\/a>, McSwain Dam was constructed just south, creating Lake McSwain and the aquatic playground where Splash-n-Dash sits today.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Splash-n-Dash has inflatables for different ages and comfort levels<\/p>\n The park’s three sections of splash adventures\u00a0can accommodate different comfort levels. Adrenaline-chasers may hit the Colossal Splash zone and its 20-foot tower with three water slides, two platforms, and a rock wall. It’s not uncommon to see back dives coming off this structure. Another set-up is the Big Splash area featuring a 25-foot-tall Action Tower with slides and its signature attraction, the 33-foot Mega Blob.\u00a0Park-goers\u00a0on the elevated platform jump onto this trampoline launcher and send the person waiting on the “blob” sky-high.\u00a0You can also swim to the\u00a0swing, a relay track, and even an alligator in repose waiting for you to slide down its purple tongue between sharp “teeth.”\u00a0To play at Colossal Splash and Big Splash, participants must be at least 7 years old, 45 inches tall, and strong swimmers. With required adult supervision, little ones under 7 years old can test their balance and agility at Lil’ Splash, a mini obstacle course with a tunnel, a slide, and hurdles.<\/p>\n Everyone\u00a0must wear the provided life jackets\u00a0and their own water shoes or ones they buy at the park. You may also want to pack essentials for a day at a lake beach<\/a>, such as bug spray.\u00a0All-day passes bought online range from $35 on weekdays to $40 on weekends and $20 for\u00a0Lil’ Splash. Visitors must also pay $10 per vehicle to enter the park.<\/p>\n Splash-n-Dash customers praise its concept and staff. “I love this place. It’s clean and toddler friendly. Plus the staff are kind and courteous,” writes one Google<\/a> fan. Others suggest bringing a wetsuit or sunburn-free dive skins<\/a> if you’re averse to cold water. Another way to take in the lake is renting a kayak or paddleboard. They’re available for an hour or a full day on a first-come, first-served basis. For more Sierra Nevada fun, visit nearby Lake McClure<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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